Has anyone e-mailed a request to hotel?
 

We will be staying in London and then Berlin. I was wondering if it would be OK to e-mail the HHotels the day before with a reminder of our room request? Has anyone done this? Is it easy to get the email address of the hotel manager?

I'd just call or fax the hotel. But if it's just to remind them of your 'request', why not just have it added to the comments in your reservation?

I've done this on numerous occasions, sometimes by e-mail, sometimes by fax, sometimes by phone (but usually at least a couple weeks prior to the stay). Results vary widely, depending on the manager and his/her priorities. Getting the e-mail address of the GM is not very easy (although it depends on the property), fax/phone numbers are much easier to find.

[This message has been edited by Eugene (edited 02-26-2003).]

I e-mail the hotel all the time - from pre-booking assistance to post-booking requests. Most of the time I get a good response. However, I've called many times as well.

I usually only call the hotel: first a couple of days after I made the reservation in order to check if they have the correct information and put in a request for upgrade. One day, or a couple of days, in advance of the actual stay I usually call again to do the same.
Until now most hotels have been very cooperative, results have varied (of course) but in general I've received at least upgrades to exec. level, even on Priceline stays (BTW I'm a HHonors Gold).

The only time I had email correspondence with a hotel before the actual stay, was when the concierge contacted me to ask if I had any requests. Very much appreciated action.

I've found w/ overseas hotels it helps to fax whaever requests you have.

I am puzzled by the emailing: how do you get the email addresses? I have not seen H posting individual hotel email addresses.

I've asked Hilton through email and they were not able to provide me with email addresses because "they only know the internal hilton email addresses". While a somewhat incredulous answer, they did offer to forward my emails to the property. This was not the Diamond Desk, btw, just a general enquiry through the Hilton website.

What I've done in the past successfully was:
a) Call the property directly and ask what so-and-so's email address is
b) Google the hotel name

Google works!! I was able to get email addresses of the London Metropole and the Berlin Hilton. Simply google for " email address of__________ (name of hotel)." I intend to telephone a few days before arrival and follow up with an email. Overkill?

I've emailed severa Hilton/Conrad hotels. Many of them have their email address on the home page for the particular Hotel. They have always responded in a timely manner.